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Local Food Bank benefits from VQA Wine Sales at LCBO

Ontario wineries give back to communities
WATERLOO, ON, March 11 /CNW/ - The Ontario wine industry has donated more
than $50,000 to local food banks including Waterloo through a "Buy Local"
program launched during the holiday season that was aimed at helping to reduce
hunger.
For every bottle of VQA wine purchased at an LCBO from November to
December, 25 cents was donated to the Ontario Association of Food Banks
(OAFB). All funds raised were shared with member food banks proportionately
across the province. Ten thousand dollars will be shared with all food banks
in Southwestern Ontario, including the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
"We were pleased to see so many customers embracing the 'buy local'
philosophy including supporting our quality VQA wines and we really felt it
was important to share in our success by giving back to our own communities,"
said Hillary Dawson, President of the Wine Council of Ontario.
The objective of the "Buy Local, Share Local" was to raise enough funds
to help the network of food banks across the province acquire and distribute
$400,000 worth of food for those in need. Because of the high efficiency of
food banks, the contributions of committed volunteers, and excellent
relationships with food industry donors, a one dollar donation can help food
banks acquire and distribute eight dollars worth of food. As a result, a
target of $50,000 was set which was achieved.
"We were delighted to have the support of Ontario's wine industry through
Buy Local, Share Local," said Wendy Campbell, Executive Director of The Food
Bank of Waterloo Region. "It will have a direct impact on our ability to meet
the needs of those we serve in the Waterloo region as well as at other food
banks in Southwestern Ontario."
"We live in a very prosperous province, and yet hundreds of thousands of
Ontarians are forced to turn to food banks because they face hunger every
day," said Adam Spence, Executive Director of the OAFB. "We are proud to work
with the Wine Council of Ontario in order to support local food banks and to
encourage Ontarians to support our local producers and neighbours this holiday
season."
"The LCBO is pleased to be a part of this important initiative," said Bob
Peter, LCBO President and CEO. "Our customers are generous supporters of
worthy causes and we're pleased to help facilitate this worthwhile fundraising
project launched by Ontario wineries this holiday season."
The campaign was also extended to participating winery properties
throughout Ontario's wine regions where $3,000 raised from the tasting bars
was donated back to local food banks in the region. For more information about
the program, log on to www.winesofontario.ca
About the Wine Council of Ontario
The Wine Council of Ontario is a non-profit trade association that
represents Ontario's four wine regions - Niagara Peninsula, Pelee Island, Lake
Erie North Shore and Prince Edward Country. These regions grow 75 per cent of
the grapes used in Canadian wine production
About The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB)
The OAFB is a network of over 100 food banks working to end hunger across
the province from Ottawa to Windsor, and Niagara Falls to Thunder Bay. 320,000
Ontarians are served by food banks every month, and 40 per cent of those
served are children. The OAFB moves millions of pounds of food every year,
coordinates the food bank distribution network, encourages safety and quality,
provides support on development, operations, and management, and raises the
profile of hunger in Ontario.